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Redskins Breakdown: Team crushed by injuries, offensive ineffectiveness in Week 8 loss

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins walks off the field after losing to the against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins walks off the field after losing to the against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 01: Members of the Washington Redskins offense line up against the defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on an extra point during the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on September 1, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 01: Members of the Washington Redskins offense line up against the defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on an extra point during the first half of a preseason game at FedExField on September 1, 2011 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Run Game: Offensive line struggles to open holes

There was no doubt that the running game would be fighting an uphill battle this week. Though the team was getting Rob Kelley in his second week back from an injury, it was expected that the team wouldn’t be able to find much success. The reason? They didn’t have a strong offensive line in front of him.

Three starting linemen missed this contest for the Redskins. Brandon Scherff, Trent Williams, and Spencer Long were all out in addition to top reserve tackle Ty Nsekhe. The unit had little chance to protect Cousins, as mentioned earlier, and they had similar struggles in the run game.

Aside from a 3-yard touchdown run, the offensive line wasn’t able to pave the way for Kelley on any of his runs. The unit just had no ability to push the Dallas front and Kelley didn’t have the same physical style that he has normally had in the past. Perhaps it was related to his injury, perhaps it may have something to do with the weight he lost during the offseason. Either way, it wasn’t an inspiring performance for Kelley.

Moving forward, the Redskins have to try to mix up their backs more. They split reps between Kelley and Thompson for the most part, but Thompson was more effective. That said, the team still is reluctant to give him a full workload give his lack of size, so they’ll instead have to mix Samaje Perine into the rotation.

Right now, it doesn’t look like the Redskins have an answer to their running back dilemma on the roster. The team may elect to look for a running back early in the draft next year unless the truly think that Perine could be the answer for the team.

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